Bottom line is if we have a hole at pg next season, we'd be insane not to consider Payton for cheap. No one seriously wants Malone. Anyone who brings Malone's name into a discussion about aquiring Payton doesn't have a good argument or doesn't understand the discussion. Maybe he's too old but then so is Mark Jackson. I'd like to see a platoon next year of Payton and a younger developing pg we get through the draft.
Gary Payton is looking pretty old these days. If he leaves the Lakers he will either 1) want to go to a team for more than the MLE or 2) go to a team for the full MLE where he can get some shots and have more control, something the Triangle Offense in LA doesnt allow him to do. I feel Payton's staple advantage is his "glove defense" and that is starting to slow down. He just doesnt have the quickness anymore. Perhaps in the past that would make him a good fit on this team....I am not so sure anymore. Also, if Payton didnt like sharing shots with Kobe and Shaq, will he want to share shots with Mobley and Yao? Do we want Payton dominating the ball like that? Isnt that why we would be trading Francis in the first place? This team already does well on TEAM DEFENSE. Because of that we can get away with having average individual defensive players and still play well defensively. I would rather have an average defensive player who is a good shooter (Brent Barry) than a good individual defensive player that is an average shooter (Payton). This team already has good defense. It was the nights that we could score over 90 points that put us over the top. Brent Barry fits a better need here which is a guy that will pass first, hit the open 3pt shot and get Yao involved. I just dont think Payton is a good fit here, especially after seeing his act in LA this season.
If we could pick up Malone for cheap, it would be stupid to pass on that. Any team out there would take him in a heartbeat. The man can still pass, play D and set picks. Those are the areas that kill the rockets. ever seen Cato on a pick? It's pretty ugly. I said it before the series: the Rocks had no one to counter Malone. You swap Malone from the Lakers to the Rockets, and we win that series. Yeah, I don't like the guy and what he has done to the Rockets in the past. But he brings an attitude about winning, team play, and doing the dirty work that is still not in Houston. But Payton? No way. He can't handle being the 4th option on the Lakers with 3 HOFer's playing with him. Imagine how he would b**** if he came here and had to be the 4th option! He simply is a "me" player, and has no concept of team. I'd bring back Maloney before I wasted $$ on Payton....
